updated 02:55 pm EDT, Wed October 20, 2010

10.7 coming next summer

Apple has announced the next version of Mac OS X, which continues the feline theme with the name "Lion." Version 10.7 brings several features that were originally pioneered for iOS on the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. Users will be able to take advantage of multi-touch gestures, an app store, app home screens, and fullscreen layouts.

The Mac App Store is based on its iOS counterpart, offering developers the same 70/30 revenue split. The portal has been described as "not the only place, but the best place to discover apps." Users will be able to download apps with a single click, with automatic installation and app updates.

Lion will also integrate a new Mission Control feature, which unifies a variety of content using Expose-style windows. The interface provides a shortcut to the Dashboard, while apps are grouped into clusters. Users can control everything using gestures.

A new Launchpad icon will transition from open windows to a fullscreen display of all the apps on a Mac. Users can swipe to see multiple pages, or arrange apps into iOS-style folders. Content downloaded from the App Store is automatically added to the Launchpad.

Apple expects Lion to be ready by summer 2011, but the Mac App Store will be added to Snow Leopard sometime within the next 90 days.

They're PO'd

AppStore

Nice to see that Apple has now basically told developers how to license their software as well. You buy it from the AppStore, users get to run it on all their computers in the home (not just 'their' computers, but all the computers). Maybe Apple's 30% cut will equal the amount spent processing your own payments, though.

Oh, and Apple so nicely adds them to your dock. Now how quickly is that going to fill up for the "What? You can delete icons from the dock?" crowd?

(BTW, I wouldn't even think of moving any of these apps out of the Applications folder, for I'm sure that'll break the update mechanism, as it does now).

And people said I was crazy when I said 10.7 would have one. The only difference is it isn't (apparently) a requirement.

Re: They're PO'd

Pissed about what? Was Dell about to launch a Dell Air at 2.4 pounds? Was MS just about to announce Windows 8 with Mission Control?

The only people who would be 'pissed off', I think, would be people who just bought a new MacBook Air or iLife 09 in the last week or two. Beyond that, there isn't anything here to make people 'pissed'.

Look at 'about this mac'

What to think?

I do not know what to think about that yet. But as all innovations, some fear can happen when people does not understand the concept. But even knowing that I not full understand what Apple will do, I am afraid for the freedom of OSX.

If Steve even dream about to steal away the X environment, the terminal Unix shell from OSX, and the freedom to run Applications not full controlled by Apple, then will be a very sadly decision, and a clear statement that OSX is not for people who likes to have a choice, to tech savvy, or just IT people. Will be an OS good for lawyers and company. These are my fears.

But Apple can also use the better of both worlds (iOS plus OSX), and that could be great. So lets wait for more data, and see the path that OSX will take.

Re: ..yes

In a word... yes. There are folks out there, called 'endusers' that are scared sh*tless of anything that is not Windows. The only anchor or frame of reference they have is 'iPhone'.. Those folks are reeeeeeally cretins. They still call it 'The Mac' like they'd say 'the CD'. They've got the fear of tech. Always did.

So basically what you are saying is that Apple has decided that it wants to sell to the 'cretins'.

So now? "Oh, wow, Apple did what we wanted. 'The Mac' or 'the Apple' is now a big iPhone, sweet!" Yeah, these folks say 'sweet' too.

Well, at least we won't have to listen to fanboys talking about how 'intelligent' Mac user community is by using Macs (which never made any sense, since it would take more intelligence to actually use Windows than it would the Mac, since the Mac has always been easier to use).

@testudo

"using Macs (which never made any sense"

Computers never made any sense. Not any computer in any way. They require far too much work to be sensible. One day, I'm sure they will be user friendly, fast, tools for humans to make their lives easier. Right now they drain too much effort just to set them up and get them to work properly with everything you want them to work with.
Who will solve this problem? Who will make a computer that is just as easy for kids and adults and senior citizens to use? I can tell you this... it will not be Microsoft and it will not be Apple.

Full screen apps and multiple screens...

The primary concern I have in all these announcements is the proliferation of apps which don't properly make use of multiple screens. We've had enough problems with this issue recently (for example how iPhoto doesn't remember where you put the adjustment window, or how some apps don't make use of multiple screens at all. The whole "every app can be full-screen" thing worries me, because unless developers take their time and do it right I think we can expect to see a lot of programs which just don't work properly across multiple screens. Hopefully I'm wrong about this...

I'd love to see this support 32 bit Intel CPUs

Re: @testudo

Computers never made any sense. Not any computer in any way. They require far too much work to be sensible. One day, I'm sure they will be user friendly, fast, tools for humans to make their lives easier. Right now they drain too much effort just to set them up and get them to work properly with everything you want them to work with.

Wow, and here we were all using macs thinking they were just plug-in, turn-on, use. Turns out we all are so stupid we thought they were easy to use.

os transition

More like Mac OS X Moggie

Or maybe OS X "You got your jelly in my peanut butter".

If all they have is a bunch of dubious Windows-7-style UI "features", I think I'll skip Lion and wait for an actual improvement. Actually, I think I oughta have skipped Snow Leopard as well, I want my old Services menu back.